Pressure mounts on government to scrap sugar tax as businesses and industry groups join forces in Face the Facts, Can the Tax campaign August 16, 2016 Soft drinks producers, off licences, pubs and sugar businesses have launched a new campaign to ramp up calls for the government to scrap its soft drinks levy. The sugar tax, which was first announced in the March Budget, will be applied to drinks containing more than five grams of sugar per 100ml from April 2018. The [...]
Prime Minister Theresa May is the UK’s most popular politician according to new polling figures August 16, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May is viewed more favourably than any other senior UK politician, according to polling figures. May, who took office only last month, is the only UK politician to achieve a positive score in the rankings, published earlier today with PoliticalBetting. 48 per cent of the UK public told YouGov they have a [...]
China gives green light to latest stock market tie-up August 16, 2016 Investors will soon be able to tap in to China's fledgling tech sector with the latest flagship international stock-market tie up set to be launched later this year. The Chinese premier signalled today the long-awaited Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect had been given the green light by the country's state council, meaning international investors will be able [...]
US Federal Reserve frozen by weak US inflation as price rises slip back August 16, 2016 Inflation slipped back in the US economy in July, further easing the pressure on the US Federal Reserve to hike interest rates. The consumer prices index (CPI) came in at 0.8 per cent in July, on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, in figures released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics this afternoon. That was down from [...]
Apple is increasing its investment in China August 16, 2016 Apple is planning to increase its investment in China and will build its first ever research and development facility in the country, the tech company has revealed. Boss Tim Cook is visiting the country and commented on the plans during a meeting with China's vice premier Zhang Gaoli, according to China's official state broadcaster. "We look [...]
This map shows how house prices have changed since the Brexit vote in each inner London postcode August 16, 2016 There has been much fevered debate over whether the Brexit vote has affected house prices or not. While some figures have suggested prices are up, others have shown they're down: so far, so confusing. So Jefferies analyst Anthony Codling has used data from the UK's largest property portals to figure out what's actually happened to house prices in [...]
UK publisher snaps up shopping comparison business from Down Under August 16, 2016 Magazine publisher Future has announced the acquisition of an Australian and south east Asian digital shopping comparison business. The UK company behind Tech Radar and PC Gamer has completed a deal for Next Commerce. The acquisition comes shortly after Future announced a £14.2m takeover deal for fellow UK publisher Imagine. Read more: Magazine publisher imagines bright future with £14.2m [...]
Downgrades outpace upgrades by three-to-one in the sovereign credit ratings game August 16, 2016 Governments across the world are becoming riskier to lend to, according to an analysis of sovereign credit ratings. Research by IHS Global has shown the number of downgrades outpaced upgrades by a ratio of three-to-one in the second quarter of the year, as low commodities prices hurt emerging markets and Brexit led to the UK [...]
You can now buy the world’s oldest port wine brand online from Marks and Spencer August 16, 2016 Move over, craft beer. For the first time in five centuries, the world's oldest brand of port wine is now going to be available to buy online at a major UK retailer. Top-tier port brand Kopke's 1996 vintage has launched on Marks & Spencer online for £30 for a single bottle and can also be [...]
RMT vote in favour of station staff strikes on Govia network following planned ticket office closure August 16, 2016 The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) announced 70 per cent of members had voted in favour of further strike action on the Govia Thameslink (GTR) network. The total number of people balloted was 407 of which 120 voted against the action with a further six spoilt votes – a sizeable increase in the "no" vote compared to recent votes on industrial action. [...]